From Fox News: As construction nears completion on the long-delayed $850 million Obama Presidential Center, federal tax filings show the Obama Foundation paid CEO Valerie Jarrett $740,000 in 2024 while several former Obama White House officials collected six-figure salaries as foundation executives.
The Obama Foundation — which will operate the 19.3-acre center on publicly owned Chicago parkland — paid its CEO more than any other major presidential foundation. Salaries and benefits soared from $18.5 million in 2018 to $43.7 million in 2024, as staffing expanded to 337 employees and annual revenue reached nearly $210 million.
Jarrett, one of the Obamas’ closest advisors, took over as CEO in 2021 and is among six of the foundation’s 10 highest-paid executives who previously held senior roles in the Obama administration or campaign, according to a review of the foundation’s tax filings from 2018 to 2024.
“Illinois Democrats are truly living their best lives — making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to help design the ugliest building in Chicago,” Illinois GOP Chairman Kathy Salvi told Fox News. “Their jaw-dropping salaries prove that Illinois’ culture of corruption is alive and well as Barack Obama’s top allies rake in the cash.”
The report lists other top earners at the Obama Foundation as:
- David Simas, Obama’s former White House political director, who earned up to $626,000 annually while leading the Obama Foundation from 2017 through 2020.
- Adewale Adeyemo, a senior Obama administration official and later Biden’s deputy Treasury secretary, earned roughly $540,000 during his tenure as the foundation’s first president.
- Anne Filipic, a former White House public engagement official, and Christina Tchen, former chief of staff to Michelle Obama — each earned roughly $400,000 annually in senior foundation roles
- Michael Strautmanis, another former campaign and White House aide, has earned more than $300,000 per year.
Dismissing concerns, the Obama Foundation said in a statement to Fox News, “Executive salaries are based on competitive market rates for roles of the same level in similar institutions nationwide. Overall, salaries throughout the foundation, across all levels, are discounted relative to those in the private sector.”
And while Obama insiders have been raking in hefty salaries, Obama’s presidential center will operate under a $10, 99-year-use agreement on publicly owned Chicago parkland. (That’s certainly not relative to deals available in the private sector.)
Obama’s presidential center is scheduled to open in June and touts they will add 150 full-time jobs and help the local economy.
We are 100 days away from the Obama Presidential Center Grand Opening Ceremony, which will be livestreamed around the world! Our campus opens to the public on June 19, 2026. pic.twitter.com/UlFOGQi32R
— The Obama Foundation (@ObamaFoundation) March 10, 2026
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